REPORT 


OF 

THE  CHRISTIAN  EMBASSY 


TO 

JAPAN 


THE  FEDERAL  COUNCIL 


OF  THE 


CHURCHES  OF  CHRIST  IN  AMERICA 


REPORT 

TO  THE 

Commission  on  Relations  with  Japan 

OF 

The  Federal  Council 

OF  THE 

Churches  of  Christ  in  America 

BY 


The  Christian  Embassy  to  Japan 


CONTENTS 


PART  FIRST 

Introductory  Statement. 

Letter  of  Greetings  from  the  Federal  Council 
of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America  to 
the  Churches  of  Japan. 

Address  of  Welcome  by  Dr.  Ibuka  Represent- 
ing the  Federated  Churches  of  Japan. 

Address  of  Welcome  by  Hon.  Tawara,  Gov- 
ernor of  Prefecture  of  Sendai. 

Letter  of  Greetings  from  the  Federated 
Churches  of  Japan  to  the  Federal  Council 
of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America. 

Letter  from  the  Tokyo  Ministerial  Association. 

Letter  of  Greetings  from  the  Conference  of 
Federated  Missions  to  the  Federal  Coun- 
cil of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America. 

Letter  from  the  Japan  Continuation  Commit- 
tee to  the  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches 
of  Christ  in  America. 

Vote  of  the  Pastors  and  Christians  of  the 
Protestant  Churches  of  Osaka. 

Vote  of  the  Central  Missionary  Association, 
Osaka. 

Farewell  Letters  from  Count  Okuma. 

PART  SECOND 

Report  of  the  Embassy  to  Japan. 

General  Outline  of  Itinerary. 

Special  Mention. 

Publication  of  Letters  and  Pamphlets. 

The  Gen&ral  Message  of  the  Embassy. 

Findings. 

Difficulties  in  the  Way  of  Adjustment. 

An  Important  Suggestion. 

Recommendations. 

PART  THIRD 

Action  of  the  Commission  on  Relations  with 
Japan. 


3 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/commissiononrelaOOfede 


INTRODUCTORY  STATEMENT 


In  response  to  memorials  from  missionaries  in  Japan, 
the  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America 
established  April  17,  1914,  a “Commission  on  Relations 
with  Japan.”  The  work  of  this  Commission  is  to  “study 
the  entire  question  of  the  application  of  the  teachings  of 
Christ  to  our  relations  with  Japan,  and  to  promote  such 
influences  and  activities  as  shall  lead  to  the  right  relation- 
ships between  the  peoples  of  these  two  nations.” 

In  carrying  out  this  study  the  Commission  of  the 
Federal  Council  sent  to  Japan  an  Embassy  to  carry  the 
greetings  of  the  Christians  of  America  to  those  of  Japan. 
The  Embassy  spent  just  one  month  in  that  land  and  re- 
ceived a welcome  far  beyond  anything  it  had  anticipated. 

A private  letter  of  March  22d  from  Dr.  J.  L.  Bear- 
ing, Secretary  of  the  Federated  Missions,  to  Dr.  Macfar- 
land,  gives  some  light  as  to  the  impression  left  by  the 
visit  of  the  Embassy. 

“It  is  too  early  yet  to  properly  estimate  the 
value  of  this  Embassy.  I am  sure,  however,  that 
I am  not  wrong  in  saying  that  it  far  exceeds  in 
signiflcance  what  the  promoters  anticipated,  or 
what  Dr.  Mathews  and  Dr.  Gulick  dared  to 
hope.  Certainly,  we  in  Japan  have  been  amazed 
at  the  result.  It  scarcely  seems  possible  that  two 
men  coming  in  an  unofficial  capacity  as  far  as 
the  Government  is  concerned  could  do  so  much 
to  allay  suspicion  and  develop  a confidence  on 
the  part  of  the  people  generally  toward  America, 
which  had  become  decidedly  shaken.” 


5 


The  following  excerpt  from  a note  from  President 
Ibuka  to  Dr.  Gulick,  dated  March  24th,  confirms  Dr. 
Dearing’s  statement : 

“There  can  be  but  one  opinion  in  regard  to 
the  inestimable  value  of  your  recent  mission.  A 
flood  of  light  has  been  shed  on  the  problem. 

That  is  of  course  the  first  thing  in  order  to  the 
right  solution.” 

For  the  final  success  of  the  work  of  the  Commission 
on  Relations  with  Japan,  it  is  important  that  pastors  gen- 
erally should  familiarize  themselves  with  and  inform  their 
people  of  the  Findings  and  Recommendations  of  the  Re- 
port. Thus  alone  can  the  churches  take  their  essential 
part  in  setting  right  our  relations  with  Asia. 

Charles  S.  Macfarland, 

General  Secretary  of  the  Federal  Council  of  the ' 
Churches  of  Christ  in  America. 

April  30,  1915. 


6 


PART  FIRST 


IMPORTANT  DOCUMENTS 


Letter  of  Greetings  from  the  Federal  Council  of  the 
Churches  of  Christ  in  America  to  the  Churches 
of  Christ  in  Japan 

Greeting  : 

The  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in 
America,  on  behalf  of  its  thirty  constituent  denomina- 
tions, has  delegated  two  of  our  most  honored  and  beloved 
representatives  to  convey  to  you  the  assurance  of  our 
love  unfeigned  and  of  our  prayers  in  your  behalf. 

Professor  Shailer  Mathews,  Doctor  of  Divinity,  is 
the  Dean  of  the  Divinity  School  of  the  University  of 
Chicago,  an  author  widely  known  among  us,  and  for  this 
quadrennium.  President  of  the  Federal  Council. 

The  Rev.  Sidney  L.  Gulick,  Doctor  of  Divinity,  needs 
no  introduction  to  you,  for  he  has  been  a missionary  in 
Japan  for  many  years.  Since  his  return  to  America  upon 
his  furlough,  he  has  been  invited  to  our  most  prominent 
pulpits,  has  secured  a hearing  for  the  cause  of  Japan 
by  the  foremost  men  of  our  nation,  and  returns  to  you 
not  only  as  your  brother,  but  entrusted  with  the  duty  of 
representing,  with  Dr.  Mathews,  this  Federal  Council.  We 
are  thus  sending  to  you  those  who  are  well  qualified  to 
speak  for  us. 

We  beg  to  assure  you,  dear  brethren,  of  the  interest 
with  which  we  have  noted  the  recent  history  of  Japan, 
that  ancient  and  venerable  nation  with  its  notable  achieve- 
ments in  the  arts  and  sciences.  With  eager  hand  you 
have  grasped  what  other  peoples  could  offer  for  the  en- 
richment of  your  life,  and  in  turn  you  have  contributed 
to  the  life  of  the  world  the  inspiration  of  your  fine  en- 
thusiasm. You  have  felt  the  stimulation  of  ethical  ideals, 
the  transcendant  significance  of  moral  values.  In  the  in- 
dustrial, intellectual  and  moral  fields  of  your  activity. 
America  has  noted  your  unwearied  progress. 

But  our  deepest  interest  and  sympathy  have  been 
evoked  by  the  numbers  of  those  who  have  been  reaching 

7 


out  eager  hands  to  God.  Beyond  all  else  the  spectacle  of 
so  many  in  Japan,  seeking  after  a deeper  and  stronger 
spiritual  life,  has  moved  and  still  moves  our  hearts.  It 
is  with  such  sympathy  toward  you,  beloved  brethren,  that 
we  send  our  messengers  to  you. 

We  believe  that  the  religion  of  Jesus  makes  its 
largest  possible  contribution  to  the  peace  and  uplift  of 
the  world,  not  when  it  undertakes  by  ecclesiastical  utter- 
ances and  activities  to  solve  the  complex  intellectual  and 
practical  problems  of  civilization,  but  rather  when  it  leads 
men  to  the  inner  life  of  spiritual  self-mastery  and  self- 
devotion,  helps  them  to  learn  the  privilege  and  joy  of 
absolute  trust  in  Christ  our  Lord,  and  enables  them  to  ap- 
preciate the  obligation  of  such  loyal  devotion  to  Him  as 
finds  expression  in  holy  and  unselfish  service  of  humanity. 

We  are  sending  these,  our  brethren,  to  tell  you  as  no 
written  word  of  ours  can  tell,  the  sincerity  of  our  affec- 
tion, the  eagerness  of  our  desire,  and  the  steady  persua- 
sion of  our  hope  that  we  all,  of  the  East  and  of  the  West, 
shall  be  one  in  Jesus  Christ. 

We  pray  ,that  in  your  land  and  in  ours,  faith  shall 
have  its  satisfying  vision  of  our  Lord,  that  love  shall  be 
sanctified  by  His  fellowship,  and  that  our  common  life 
shall  be  broadened  in  its  sympathies  and  beautified  with 
His  likeness. 

May  the  God  of  love  unite  our  hearts  in  the  bonds  of 
holy  sympathy,  and  bring  us  all  into  the  joy  of  fellow- 
ship one  with  another,  through  that  diviner  fellowship 
which  is  with  the  Father  and  with  His  Son  our  Saviour. 

May  peace  and  prosperity  abide  in  all  the  homes  of 
Japan.  May  your  schools  be  centers  of  intellectual  light 
and  your  churches  centers  of  moral  life  and  spiritual 
power.  May  believers  be  multiplied  and  all  your  land  be 
blest  by  Him  who  is  the  Light  of  the  World,  the  Re- 
deemer of  men. 

Now  unto  Him  that  is  able  to  keep  you  from  falling 
and  to  present  you  faultless  before  the  presence  of  his 
glory  with  exceeding  joy,  to  the  only  wise  God  our 
Saviour,  be  glory  and  majesty,  dominion  and  power  both 
now  and  ever.  Amen. 

Your  brethren  in  Christ: 

The  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches 
of  Christ  in  America. 

Charles  S.  Macfarland, 

General  Secretary. 


8 


Address  by  Dr.  K.  Ibuka,  representing  the  Federated 
Churches  of  Japan,  delivered  at  the  Welcome  Ban- 
quet given  by  Churches  and  Missions  of  Japan  to 
the  Embassy  of  the  Federal  Council,  January  28, 
1915. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

It  is  a great  pleasure  to  me  to-night,  on  behalf  of  the 
Federation  of  Christian  Churches  in  Japan,  to  extend  our 
guests  our  most  cordial  welcome. 

Most  of  us  have  now  for  the  first  time  the  honor  of 
meeting  Dr.  Mathews,  but  his  name  is  by  no  means  un- 
known to  us.  We  have  read  his  books  and  articles  on 
the  vital  problems  of  Christianity  with  much  interest  and 
greatly  to  our  profit.  We  welcome  him,  therefore,  for 
what  he  is  to  us  himself  no  less  than  as  Chairman  of  the 
Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America. 

A visit  of  such  a man  as  Dr.  Mathews  to  Japan  would 
always  be  cause  for  congratulations ; but  it  seems  to  me 
his  visit  at  this  time  is  peculiarly  opportune.  The  Protes- 
tant Churches  and  missionaries  in  Japan  are  now  in  the 
midst  of  the  National  Evangelistic  Campaign,  and  in  this 
he  can  render  valuable  aid.  The  other  reason  is  the  pres- 
ent world  situation,  regarding  which  it  is  well  that  men 
of  every  nation  meet  together  in  counsel. 

Men  to-day  are  standing  with  bated  breath,  bewil- 
dered at  the  spectacle  of  the  gigantic  struggle  going  on  in 
Europe.-  For  a half  century  or  so  the  newly  awakened 
East  has  looked  up  to  the  civilization  of  the  West  as  the 
highest  type  of  civilization  the  world  has  ever  known. 
But  it  is  now  trembling  in  the  balance.  The  great  and 
growing  movement  for  peace  seems  to  have  ended  in 
smoke.  The  beautiful  Palace  of  Peace  at  the  Hague  has 
become  a by-word  for  mockery. 

But  this  is  not  all.  The  civilization  of  Europe  has 
been  pointed  to  in  the  East  as  pre-eminently  Christian ; 
and  men  are  asking  us  Christians,  “Where  is  your  God  ?” 
Where  is  the  Kingdom  of  God  which  you  proclaim  as 
the  supreme  aim  of  life?  Where  is  the  brotherhood  of 
man  so  often  on  your  lips?  What  is  the  real  value  of 
Christianity  to  the  world  ? Do  not  Christian  philosophers 
and  theologians  themselves  admit  that,  after  all,  might 
is  right? 


9 


We  all  know  that  these  are  no  new  taunts.  The 
Christians  in  the  early  centuries  had  to  face  essentially 
the  same  taunts.  Indeed,  they  are  as  old  as  faith  in  God. 
But  to-day  they  are  repeated  with  a new  incisiveness,  and 
they  form  a new  barrier  in  the  path  of  the  advancement 
of  the  Kingdom  of  God.  We  are  therefore  glad  to  have 
with  us  one  so  well  fitted  to  answer  the  question,  “Watch- 
man, what  of  the  night?  What  are  its  signs  of  Promise?” 

But  Dr.  Mathews  has  come  to  Japan  on  a special 
errand ; and  on  that  errand  we  welcome-  him  and  bid  him 
Godspeed. 

It  is  no  secret  that  in  recent  years  questions  have 
arisen  that  have  interrupted  the  long  years  of  mutual 
friendship  between  America  and  Japan.  That  those  ques- 
tions present  real  difficulties  for  solution  cannot  be  denied  ; 
but  we  are  confident  that  they  can  be  solved.  Two  things, 
however,  seem  to  me  necessary. 

First,  we  must  come  and  reason  together.  On  each 
side  there  must  be  a patient  willingness  to  learn  and  to 
ponder  the  grounds  on  which  the  judgments  of  the  other 
are  based.  I am  sure  that  a free  and  frank  interchange 
of  thoughts  between  Dr.  Mathews  and  men  who  guide 
public  opinion  in  Japan  will  prove  of  high  value.  But  this 
alone  is  not  enough.  On  both  sides  alike  it  must  be  rec- 
ognized that  in  things  international,  no  less  truly  than  in 
things  of  the  individual,  the  highest  law  is  the  law  of  the 
Spirit  of  Christ. 

Dr.  Gulick,  our  other  guest,  needs  no  introduction  or 
letter  of  commendation.  He  is  well  known  to  us  all 
and  has  a place  of  honor  among  us ; and  we  welcome  him 
back  to  Japan  after  his  year  of  strenuous  labor  in  the 
Christian  cause  of  international  goodwill  and  justice. 


10 


Welcome  Address  by  Hon.  Tawara,  Governor  of  the 
Prefecture  of  Sendai,  February  6,  1915  ‘ 

With  great  pleasure  I have  the  honor  of  -welcoming 
to-day  our  distinguished  guests  from  America,  Dr.  Shailer 
Mathews  and  Dr.  Gulick. 

Dr.  Mathews,  as  the  President  of  the  Federal  Coun- 
cil of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America,  represents  thirty 
denominations  and  17,000,000  of  Christian  men  and 
women,  and  brings  to  us  the  goodwill  of  the  American 
people.  He  comes  for  the  purpose  of  making  the  relation 
between  America  and  Japan  better  and  more  intimate  in 
accordance  with  the  teaching  of  Christ.  I have  not  the 
least  doubt  that  his  great  scholarship  and  the  great  weight 
of  his  personality  will  fully  bring  about  the  desired  result 
and  accomplish  this  great  purpose. 

We  learn  that  the  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches 
of  Christ  in  America  aims,  not  only  to  make  the  relation 
between  America  and  Japan  more  intimate  and  cordial, 
but  also  to  endeavor  to  clear  up  misunderstandings  among 
the  nations.  As  misunderstandings  are  obstacles  to  the 
good  friendship  of  individuals,  so  they  are  most  danger- 
ous between  nations,  often  threatening  to  cause  the  break- 
ing of  international  relations.  Nearly  all  the  international 
troubles,  and  even  wars,  have  been  caused  by  misunder- 
standings. We  have  many  reasons  to  believe  that  the 
present  war  among  European  powers  is  largely  due  to 
misunderstandings. 

The  Federal  Council,  also,  tries  to  promote  the  peace 
of  the  world  and  to  put  international  relations  upon  the 
foundation  of  the  teachings  of  the  Gospel.  There  is  no 
work  more  urgent  and  more  important ; no  aim  higher 
and  nobler. 

It  is  a most  significant  fact  that  you,  who  have  so 
great  a mission,  have  come  to  Sendai  first.  Here  in  this 
city  there  are  many  missionaries  from  the  United  States. 
They  are  actively  and  earnestly  engaged  in  Evangelistic, 
Educational,  Philanthropical  and  Social  work.  xA.  few 
years  ago  when  North  Japan  was  visited  by  various  calam- 

I.  The  Embassy  was  the  recipient  of  many  addresses  of  welcome  both  in 
Japanese  and  English  The  address  here  presented  was  the  first  of 
addresses  by  Governors 


11 


ities,  such  as  the  failure  of  crops  and  floods,  causing 
famines,  they  were  not  slow  in  extending  helping  hands  to 
the  poor  and  needy.  They  have  not  spared  their  energies 
in  raising  relief  funds  in  their  own  country,  in  their  efforts 
to  save  both  the  bodies  and  souls  of  men.  The  memory 
of  all  this  is  still  fresh  in  our  minds.  For  all  this  effort 
of  the  American  missionaries,  for  their  social  services  and 
their  constant  goodwill,  not  only  to  Christians  but  to  the 
people  in  general,  we  feel  deeply  grateful. 

So  we  welcome  both  of  you  most  heartily  and  cor- 
dially. It  is  our  sincere  desire  that  you  may  continue  to 
enjoy  good  health,  and  to  accomplish  your  great  mission. 
Again  we  welcome  you  from  the  bottom  of  our  hearts. 


12 


Letter  of  Greetings  from  the  Federal  Council  of  the 
Churches  of  Christ  in  Japan  to  the  Federal  Coun- 
cil of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America 

Tokyo,  February  15th,  1915. 

The  Rev.  Charles  S.  Macfarland, 

General  Secretary  of  the  Federal  Council  of  the 
Churches  of  Christ  in  America. 

Dear  Brother: 

Greeting  : 

We  were  much  pleased  to  receive  your  letter  ad- 
dressed to  the  churches  of  our  federation  brought  by  Dr. 
Mathews  and  Dr.  Gulick  as  representatives  of  your 
council. 

We  feel  very  thankful  that  these  two  brethren  have 
been  eagerly  striving  to  discharge  their  mission  ever  since 
their  arrival  in  our  land  by  traveling  throughout  the 
country. 

Our  federation  consists  of  ten  Protestant  denomina- 
tions in  Japan.  Our  membership  is  not  much  more  than 

70.000,  but  this  number  represents  the  majority  of  Protes- 
tant membership  of  Japan,  which  altogether  amounts  to 

90.000, 

The  total  number  of  Christians  in  Japan  is  less  than 

200.000,  even  including  Roman  Catholic  membership. 

For  while  the  number  of  Christians  in  Japan  cannot 

be  said  to  be  very  large,  those  who  are  in  favor  of  Chris- 
tianity are  several  hundred  per  cent.  more.  In  fact, 
Christian  ethical  ideas,  and  the  Christian  view  of  life  are 
sweeping  through  the  mind  of  the  educated  class.  Espe- 
cially of  late  inquirers  are  coming  from  all  classes. 

The  above-mentioned  brethren  were  very  heartily 
welcomed  everywhere,  both  by  the  official  class  and  by  the 
people  in  general,  and  they  have  been  given  ample  oppor- 
tunity to  express  freely  their  convictions  both  in  their  ad- 
dresses and  in  their  conferences.  This  is  but  one  sign 
of  the  ripeness  of  time  for  the  evangelization  of  the  en- 
tire country. 

Again,  that  the  special  three  year  Evangelistic  cam- 
paign which  started  last  year  is  to  be  an  opportunity  Tor 
a great  revival,  we  do  not  doubt.  Indeed,  this  is  a great 
blessing  which  the  Lord  has  shown  to  Japan,  and  which 
is  also  the  fruits  of  self-sacrificing  services  rendered  by 
the  missionaries  whom  the  churches  in  your  country  have 
sent  us.  For  all  these  we  are  grateful. 

13 


It  is,  we  believe,  the  responsibility  of  the  two  coun- 
tries with  their  historic  friendship,  that  in  grateful  re- 
sponse to  unbounded  grace  from  on  high,  the  one  from 
this  side  of  the  Pacific,  and  the  other  from  the  other  side, 
should  contribute  toward  the  peace  of  the  world,  and 
toward  the  happiness  of  entire  humanity,  by  bringing  into 
light  the  fundamental  principles  of  brotherhood  of  all 
nations. 

The  problem  which  of  late  years  originated  in  one 
part  of  your  country  and  now  exists  between  Japan  and 
America  can  only  be  solved  by  each  other’s  better  under- 
standing, and  by  mutual  practice  of  the  “Royal  Lav/.” 

We  feel  strengthened  in  our  belief  that  the  action  of 
your  Council  in  sending  the  two  brethren  is  but  a begin- 
ning af  a new  movement  to  this  end. 

May  the  rich  blessings  of  God  be.  upon  the  churches 
of  your  country. 

(Signed)  Hiromichi  Kosaki, 

President,  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of 

Christ  in  Japan. 

(Signed)  Kikutaro  Matsuno, 

Secretary. 


14 


LETTER  FROM  THE  TOKYO  MINISTERIAL 
ASSOCIATION 


. Tokyo,  Japan,  February  9th,  1915. 

The  Rev.  Charles  S.  Macfarland,  D.D., 

Secretary  of  the  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches 
of  Christ  in  America. 

My  dear  Sir: 

It  is  with  feelings  of  grief  and  the  deepest  concern 
that  we  contemplate  those  unhappy  incidents  of  recent 
date  which  throw  a cloud  over  the  delightfully  intimate 
relations  which  have  always  existed  between  our  two 
countries,  Japan  and  America.  It  does,  indeed,  seem  to 
us  that,  without  doubt,  these  are  matters  which  ought  to 
be  easy  of  adjustment  by  the  responsible  diplomatic  rep- 
resentatives of  the  two  Governments  in  the  familiarity  of 
friendly  negotiation,  and  yet  we  cannot  but  feel  that  they 
should  not  be  left  entirely  in  the  hands  of  politicians  and 
diplomats.  We  believe  that  we  Christians  of  both  nations, 
approaching  such  problems,  as  we  commonly  do,  from 
the  standpoint  of  justice  and  humanity,  should  do  our 
utmost  towards  their  solution.  And  it  is  for  this  reason 
that  we  are  deeply  impressed  by  the  action  of  . the  Federal 
Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America  in  sending 
to  our  country  your  President,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mathews,  and 
also  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gulick,  at  this  time,  and  we  wish  hereby 
to  express  our  deep  appreciation  of  their  fraternal  visit. 

We  believe  there  is  a responsibility  resting  upon  the 
Christian  believers  in  both  countries  to  make  increasingly 
real,  as  the  years  pass,  the  cordiality  of  those  friendly  re- 
lations, which,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  have  continued 
so  happily  during  these  fifty  years  and  more  of  inter- 
course between  us,  and  thus  contribute  to  the  peace  of 
the  world.  This  is  why  we  Christians  of  the  East  and 
West  alike  should  exert  ourselves  to  awaken  and  foster 
a healthy  public  sentiment  among  our  peoples  with  a 
view  to  a fundamental  solution  of  our  mutual  problems, 
and  we  hope  to  put  forth  our  best  endeavors  to  this  end. 

The  Tokyo  Ministerial  Association  wishes  to  convey 
to  your  honorable  body  profound  thanks  for  your  Chris- 
tian brotherliness,  and  we  pray  that  the  Divine  grace  and 
benediction  may  abide  richly  upon  you. 

Yours  sincerely, 

(Signed)  Kota  Hoshino, 
Chairman,  Tokyo  Ministerial  Association. 
15 


Letter  of  Greetings  from  the  Conference  of  Federated 
Missions  in  Japan  to  the  Federal  Council  of 
the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America 

March  17th,  1915. 

The  Rev.  Charles  S.  Macfarland,  D.D., 

General  Secretary  of  the  Federal  Council  of  the 
Churches  of  Christ  in  America. 

Dear  Dr.  Macfarland: 

We  have  been  instructed  by  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee of  the  Conference  of  Federated  Missions  in  Japan  to 
send  you  “a  letter  of  appreciation  of  the  valuable  services” 
rendered  by  Drs.  Mathews  and  Gulick  on  the  occasion  of 
their  recent  visit  to  Japan ; and  it  is  with  great  pleasure 
that  we  respond  to  the  request. 

As  you  are  doubtless  aware,  it  is  no  strange  thing, 
either  to  the  Japanese  or  the  missionaries  working  among 
them,  to  welcome  distinguished  persons  from  America, 
or  other  foreign  countries,  who  come  as  representatives 
of  various  organizations  or  interests  with  which  people  in 
this  country  are  more  or  less  concerned.  We  believe, 
however,  we  are  safe  in  saying,  that  never  in  the  history 
of  missionary  work  in  this  land  has  a deputation  visited 
us  who  dealt  with  more  important  issues,  in  a more  satis- 
factory manner,  and  at  a more  opportune  moment  than 
the  brethren  to  whom  this  letter  refers. 

The  time  spent  in  Japan  was  short,  but  to  say  that 
every  moment  of  it  was  employed  in  the  best  possible  way 
is,  we  believe,  only  the  simple  truth  and  we  trust  that 
the  strength  of  the  visitors  was  not  overtaxed. 

It  is  obviously  inadvisable  that  we  should  go  into  de- 
tails but  we  might  mention  that  to  many  of  us  the  out- 
standing feature  of  the  addresses  delivered  by  your  depu- 
tation was  their  manly,  straightforward,  Christian  char- 
acter. They  were  a fine  exhibition  of  the  Pauline  prin- 
ciple “Speaking  the  Truth  in  Love”  and  it  is  believed  that 
the  Japanese,  generally,  were  deeply  and  favorably  im- 
pressed by  this  method  of  dealing  with  great  issues.  It 
is  probable  that  Dr.  Mathews,  especially,  as  a visitor  for 
the  first  time  to  the  country,  could  go  further  in  the  way 
of  plain  speaking,  than  it  might  be  advisable  for  the  mis- 
sionary residents  here  to  do,  but  it  may  be  that  we  shall 
find  we  ought  to  learn  from  him  in  this  regard. 

16 


Please  allow  us,  therefore,  on  behalf  of  our  Confer- 
ence to  thank  your  Council  for  sending  Dr.  Mathews  and 
Dr.  Gulick  to  this  country,  and  to  assure  you  that  their 
work,  both  here  and  in  America,  on  behalf  of  the  great 
object  they  have  in  view,  will  be  followed  and  remembered 
earnestly  in  prayer  and  thanksgiving  by  the  missionary 
body  represented  by  us  and,  we  believe  we  may  add  with- 
out doubt,  by  a large  number  of  our  Japanese  friends  and 
brethren  who  have  fellowship  with  us  in  the  Gospel. 

With  all  good  wishes,  believe  us  to  be, 

Yours  sincerely  in  Christ  Jesus, 

(Signed)  J.  Cooper  Robinson, 

Chairman. 

(Signed)  John  Lincoln  Dearing, 

Secretary. 


17 


Letter  from  the  Japan  Continuation  Committee  of  the 
National  Missionary  Conference,  Tokyo,  1915 

75  Bluff,  Yokohama,  March  1,  1915. 

Rev.  Charles  S.  Macfarland,  D.D.,  Secretary, 

Federal  Council  of  Churches  of  Christ  in  America. 

Dear  Dr.  Macfarland: 

1 am  instructed  by  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
Continuation  Committee  in  Japan  to  express  to  you  our 
appreciation  of  the  action  of  the  Federal  Council  in  send- 
ing to  Japan  Dr.  Shailer  Mathews  and  Dr.  S.  L.  Gulick, 
bringing  the  letter  of  goodwill  and  Christian  greeting 
from  your  Council.  The  good  results  likely  to  follow 
their  visit  are  beyond  calculation.  We  deeply  appreciate 
the  spirit  which  prompted  the  sending  of  these  brethren 
to  Japan,  and  desire  to  express  our  deep  gratitude  for 
their  coming,  representing  as  they  do  so  large  a company 
of  the  Christian  people  in  America. 

Yours  very  respectfully, 

(Signed)  John  L.  Dearing, 
'Secretary,  Continuation  Committee  of  Japan. 


18 


VOTE  OF  THE  PASTORS  AND  CHRISTIANS  OF 
THE  PROTESTANT  CHURCHES  OF  OSAKA 

To  the  Federal  Council  of  Churches  in  America: 

We,  the  Pastors  and  Christians  of  all  the  Protestant 
Churches  in  Osaka,  Japan,  express  our  sincere  gratitude 
to  the  Federal  Council  of  Churches  in  America,  for  send- 
ing to  us  two  distinguished  Christian  Scholars,  Doctors 
Shailer  Mathews  and  Sidney  L.  Gulick  to  promote  a 
more  friendly  feeling  between  the  United  States  of 
America  and  Japan. 

We  pray  that  our  international  problem  may  be 
solved  by  our  common  Father,  in  the  name  of  His  Son, 
Jesus  Christ,  the  Prince  of  Peace,  King  of  Kings  and 
Lord  of  Lords,  who  taught  us  the  universal  law  of  the 
Brotherhood  of  man. 

May  the  day  soon  come  when  to  his  name  all  glory 
and  praise  shall  be  ascribed. 

Fraternally  yours, 

(Signed)  T.  Kugimiya, 
Chairman  of  the  Osaka  Reception  Committee. 
Osaka,  Japan, 

February  21st,  1915. 

VOTE  OF  THE  CENTRAL  MISSIONARY  ASSO- 
CIATION, OSAKA,  JAPAN 

The  following  resolution  was  passed  by  a unani- 
mous vote  of  th^  body  of  the  Central  Japan  Missionary 
Association,  meeting  in  Osaka,  February  22nd,  1915; 

“Voted — That  we  request  Drs.  Mathews  and  Gulick 
to  use  their  influence  with  the  Federated  Council  of  the 
Churches  of  Christ  in  America  to  send,  whenever  feasible, 
a second  Commission  to  Japan  to  continue  the  timely 
work  so  well  begun  by  their  first  Commission.” 

(Signed)  J.  B.  Hail, 

President. 

(Signed)  Wm.  H.  Erskine, 

Secretary. 


19 


FAREWELL  LETTERS  FROM  COUNT  OKUMA 

Premier’s  Office 

Tokyo,  February  19th,  1915. 

My  dear  Doctor  Mathews: 

Now  that  you  have  met  no  small  number  of  repre- 
sentative men  of  Japan  and  have  talked  with  them  on 
their  own  ground,  I trust  you  have  found  that  there  is 
in  the  bottom  of  their  heart  nothing  but  a feeling  of 
genuine  friendship  toward  America. 

True  that  they  all  feel  chagrined  at  the  unfortunate 
anti-Japanese  agitation  which  of  recent  years  has  found 
expression  in  the  press  and  council  of  certain  sections  of 
the  United  States.  So  far,  however,  that  has  not  dis- 
turbed their  implicit  faith  in  the  high  sense  of  justice 
and  righteousness  of  the  Christian  people  of  America, 
from  whose  thought  nothing  is  farther  than  wounding  the 
susceptibilities  of  a friendly  neighbor.  On  the  contrary, 
thoughtful  people  of  Japan  felt  it  all  the  more  imperative 
to  cultivate  a better  understanding  with  American  people, 
because  they  thought  whatever  difficulties  there  may  exist 
in  the  present  relations  of  the  two  countries  these  were 
largely  due  to  lack  of  such  an  understanding  between 
them. 

I warmly  reciprocate  the  sentiment  conveyed  in  the 
messages  which  you  brought  from  your  President  and  the 
Secretary  of  State  to  the  people  of  my  country  and  in  so 
doing  I am  only  interpreting  the  true  feeling  of  my  coun- 
trymen. 

In  bidding  you  farewell,  I wish  you,  my  dear  Doctor, 
a success  that  will  deserve  your  noble  endeavors  in  the 
interest  of  common  good  of  our  two  peoples. 

Yours  very  truly, 

(Signed)  Okuma. 

Dr.  Shailer  Mathews, 

Imperial  Hotel, 

Tokyo. 


20 


Premier’s  Office 

Tokyo,  February  19th,  1915. 

My  dear  Doctor  Gulick: 

I send  you  herewith  enclosed  a copy  of  the  letter 
which  I wrote  to  your  distinguished  co-worker.  Dr. 
Shailer  Mathews. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  for  me  to  repeat  how  much 
your  work,  which  has  for  its  aim  cultivation  of  a better 
understanding  between  the  people  of  our  two  countries, 
is  appreciated  here  in  Japan.  To  us  it  is  especially  grati- 
fying'that  this  important  work  is  in  the  hands  of  a man 
like  you,  who,  to  say  nothing  of  his  high  quality,  has 
lived  among  us  for  so  many  years  and  understands  us  so 
thoroughly  and  therefore  can  tell  his  own  people  with 
authority  what  are  our  true  aims  and  aspirations. 

I trust  that  the  message  which  you  are  now  to  take 
home  with  you  will  be  one  of  genuine  friendship  and 
goodwill  from  Japan. 

Yours  very  truly, 

(Signed)  Okuma. 

Dr.  Sidney  L.  Gulick, 

Imperial  Hotel, 

Tokyo. 


21 


PART  SECOND 


REPORT  OF  THE  EMBASSY 


TO  THE  COMMISSION  ON  RELATIONS  WITH 
JAPAN  OF  THE  FEDERAL  COUNCIL  OF 
THE  CHURCHES  OF  CHRIST  IN 
'AMERICA 

The  undersigned,  members  of  the  Christian  Embassy 
to  Japan,  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report. 

By  action  of  the  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of 
Christ  in  America  the  undersigned  were  appointed  to 
serve  as  a Christian  Embassy  to  Japan. 

Sailing  from  San  Francisco  January  9th  we  spent 
one  afternoon  and  night  at  Honolulu,  where  we  received 
the  first  of  our  welcome  banquets  and  made  our  first  ad- 
dresses. We  landed  in  Yokohama  Wednesday,  January 
27th,  and  found  that  the  committee  of  the  Japanese  Fed- 
eration of  Churches,  in  co-operation  with  the  Secretary 
of  the  Federated  Missions,  Rev.  J.  L.  Bearing,  D.D.,  had 
arranged  a complete  program  for  the  entire  time  of  our 
stay.  This  program,  although  continually  expanded,'  was 
followed  without  material  change.  It  involved  addresses 
and  sermons  before  the  Japanese  Christians,  educational 
institutions  and  missionary  bodies,  in  addition  to  banquets, 
receptions,  conferences,  and  incidental  engagements  both 
social  and  literary.  The  total  number  of  these  engage- 
ments was  two  hundred  and  twenty-three,  of  which  one 
hundred  and  thirty-two  were  addresses,  lectures  and  ser- 
mons, forty-nine  were  formal  luncheons,  dinners,  ban- 
quets and  sermons,  and  forty-three  were  conferences  and 


interviews. 

Mr.  Mathews’  Addresses 89 

Mr.  Gulick’s  Addresses 42 

Luncheons,  Dinners  and  Banquets 38 

Receptions 11 

Interviews  and  Conferences 43 


223 

The  reception  given  your  representatives,  not  only 
by  the  Pastors,  Christians  and  Missionaries,  but  also  by 
the  highest  representatives  of  the  nation,  official  and  un- 
official, surpassed  our  most  sanguine  anticipations.  Op- 

22 


portunities  were  given  us  for  many  unhurried  confer- 
ences, both  public  and  confidential.  The  addresses  and 
statements  on  both  sides,  while  evincing  absolute  good 
will,  were  characterized  by  remarkable  frankness  and 
definiteness.  Your  commission  returns  from  Japan  with 
profound  conviction  of  having  been  admitted  not  only 
to  the  inner  circles  of  Japan’s  best  life,  but  also  to  the 
real  thought  and  desire  of  the  responsible  leaders  of  the 
nation. 

The  press  of  Japan,  both  English  and  vernacular,  was 
most  generous  in  its  report  of  our  movements  and  ad- 
dresses. ’ These  editorials  expressed  a warmth  of  wel- 
come and  appreciation  that  was  highly  gratifying  to  all 
who  are  seeking  to  promote  right  relations  between 
America  and  Japan. 

A detailed  narrative  of  the  crowded  events  of  the 
months  would  be  far  too  long.  We  accordingly  condense 
these  statements  into  a bare  chronological  table. 


23 


A GENERAL  OUTLINE  OF  ITINERARY 


The  members  of  your  Commission  were  together 
most  of  the  time.  It  seemed  wise,  however,  for  greater 
effectiveness  to  separate  on  two  or  three  occasions.  We 
spent  the  first  ten  days  in  Tokyo.  Both  of  us  went  to 
Sendai  for  two  days.  Mr.  Mathews  went  thence  for  one 
day  to  Morioka  in  the  extreme  north  while  Mr.  Gulick 
returned  to  Tokyo  for  conferences.  After  three  addi- 
tional days  in  Tokyo,  together  we  went  to  Kyoto  and 
Kobe. 

From  Kobe  Mr.  Mathews  went  to  the  extreme  south, 
visiting  Kumamoto,  Fukuoka,  Yamaguchi,  Hiroshima 
and  Okayama.  Mr.  Gulick  remained  in  Kobe  and  Osaka 
for  two  days,  then  went  to  Matsuyama,  joining  Mr. 
Mathews  at  Hiroshima.  Kyoto  and  Osaka  occupied  us 
for  two  more  days.  On  his  return  to  Tokyo  Mr.  Mathews 
alone  stopped  over  at  Nagoya  for  a half  day.  The  last 
three  days  in  Japan  were  crowded  with  appointments  in 
Tokyo  and  Yokohama. 

Advance  letters  to  Japan  had  suggested  that  while 
Mr.  Mathews  was  prepared  to  respond  liberally  to  invita- 
tions for  addresses  and  lectures,  it  seemed  desirable  that 
Mr.  Gulick  should  reserve  his  time  for  personal  inter- 
views and  private  conferences.  This  suggestion  was  car- 
ried out.  As  a result  Mr.  Mathews  spoke  not  only  at 
the  regular  receptions  and  Christian  gatherings,  but  also 
at  all  the  principal  Universities  and  Higher  Educational 
Institutions  of  the  land.  He  was  accompanied  through- 
out the  entire  time  by  Professor  Chiba,  of  the  Baptist 
Theological  Seminary,  who  ably  interpreted  for  him 
wherever  needed. 


24 


PROGRAM 


Wed.,  Jan.  27 


Thurs.,  Jan.  28 


Jan.  29 


Sat.,  Jan.  30 


Sun.,  Jan.  31 


YOKOHAMA 

Met  on  the  steamer  by  representatives 
of  the  Federated  Churches,  Feder- 
ated Missions,  and  the  English  and 
Japanese  press. 

TOKYO 

Asiatic  Society  Annual  Dinner  (S.  M. 
& S.  L.  G.) 

Address  (S.  M.) 

Formal  call  upon  Ambassador  Guth- 
rie (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Welcome  Banquet,  Federation  of 
Churches  and  Federated  Missions. 

Addresses  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Conference  with  Messrs.  Fisher  and 
Clement  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Address  Duncan  Academy  (S.  M.) 

Conference  with  President  Naruse 
(S.  L.  G.) 

Conference  with  Ambassador  Guth- 
rie (S.  L.  G.) 

Interview  with  Representative  of  Ni- 
chinichi  Shinbun  (S.  L.  G.) 

Conference  with  Vice-Minister  of 
Foreign  Affairs  Mr.  K.  Matsui 
(S.  L.  G.) 

Welcome  Dinner,  Japan  Peace  So- 
ciety, Addresses  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Formal  Reception  by  Count  Okuma, 
Prime  Minister  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Reception  by  Tokyo  Pastors. 

Addresses  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

YOKOHAMA 

Address,  Japanese  Baptist  Church 
(S.  M.) 

Sermon,  English  Union  Church  (S.M.) 

25 


TOKYO 


Sun  , Jan.  31 

Sermon, English  Union  Church  (S.M.) 
Sermon,  Japanese  Ginza  Methodist 
Church  (S.  M.) 

Conference  and  Lunch  with  Baron 
^ Shibusawa  (S.  L.  G.) 

Mon.,  Feb.  1 

Conference,  President  T.  Harada  (S. 

. L.  G.) 

Interview  with  Representative  of  Jiji 
. Shimpo  (S.  L.  G.) 

d'ues.,  Feb.  2 

Address,  Disciple’s  Mission  School 
(S.  M.) 

Address,  Baptist  Theological  Sem. 
(S.  M.) 

Conference,  Rev.  K.  Kozaki  (S.  L.  G.) 
Interview,  Representative  of  Taiyo  (S. 

L.  G.) 

Banquet  at  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Nitobe’s  (S. 

M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Wed.,  Feb.  3 

Address,  St.  Paul  School  (Episc.) 
(S.  M.) 

Lecture,  Imperial  University  (S.  M.) 
Address,  Mass  Meeting,  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
(S.  M.) 

Thurs.,  Feb.  4 

Formal  Reception  and  Conference  by 
Baron  Kato,  Minister  of  Foreign 
Affairs  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.)  _ 
Lecture,  Aoyama  Gaku-iu  (Me'th.  Col- 
lege) (S.  M.) 

Reception  and-  Address,  Baptist  Mis- 
sionaries (S.  M.) 

Thurs.,  Feb.  4 

Conference  with  Peace  Committee  of 
Federated  Churches. 

Address  (S.  L.  G.) 

Addresses,  Mass  Meeting,  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
(S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Fri.,  Feb.  5 

Lecture,  Meiji  Gaku-iu  (Presby.  Col- 
lege) (S.  M.)  _ 

Lecture,  Keio  University  (S.  M.) 
Conference  with  Messrs.  Abe  and  Su- 
zuki (S.  L.  G.) 

26 


Fri.,  Feb.  5 


Sat.,  Feb.  6 

Conference  with  a group  of  Lawyers, 
Professors,  M.  P.’s  and  Ministers, 
at  G.  M.  Fisher’s  (S.  M.,&  S'  L.  G.) 

Address  Central  Tabernacle  (Japanese 
Methodist)  (S.  M.) 

Lecture,  Meiji  Dai  Gakko  (Imperial 
Law  School)  (S.  M.) 

Lecture,  Waseda  University  (S.  M.) 

Formal  Luncheon  by  Count  Okuma 
(S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Address  (S.  M.) 

Public  Reception  at  Count  Okuma’s 
(S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Address  (S.  M.) 

Addresses,  Waseda  University  Chris- 
tian Students’  Dormitory  (S.  M.  & 
■ S.  L.  G.) 

Reception  and  Dinner,  Keio  Univer- 
sity Club  (S.  M:  & S.  L.  G.) 

Address  (S.  M.) 

Address  and  Conference  with  Keio 
University  Professors  (S.  L.  G.) 

Address  Chinese  Y.  M.  C.  A.  (S.  M.) 

Sun.,  Feb.  7 

SENDAI 

Sermon,  Japanese  Baptist  Church 
(S.  M.)  • 

Sermon,  Japanese  Congregational 
■ Church  (S.  L.  G.) 

Sermon,  English  Union  Church 
(S.  M.) 

Sermon,  Union  Meeting  Japanese 
Christians  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Mon.,  Feb.  8 

Address,  Boys’  School  (S.  M.) 

Address,  Girls’  School  (Baptist) 
(S.  M.) 

Address,  Boys’  School  (German  Re- 
formed) (S.  M.) 

Lunch  with  Governor,  Officials  and 
Professors  at  Baptist  Girls’  School 
(S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Official  Reception  by  Governor,  Pro- 
fessors and  Leading  Citizens. 

Addresses  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

27 

Mon.,  Feb.  8 


Tnes.,  Feb.  9 

Dinner  with  Sendai  Pastors  at  Rev. 
and  Mrs.  Gerhardt’s  (S.  M.  & S. 
L.  G.) 

Addresses,  Students’  Mass  Meeting 
(S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Conference  with  Sendai  Pastors  (S. 
L.  G.) 

MORIOKA 

Luncheon  to  Governor  by  Rev.  M. 

Stradman  (S.  M.) 

Address  (S.  M.) 

Address,  Citizens’  Meeting  (S.  M.) 
Dinner  by  Governor,  Address  (S.  M.) 
Sermon,  Baptist  Church  (S.  M.) 

Tues.,  Feb.  9 

TOKYO 

Conference  with  Mr.  M.  Hanihara, 
Chief  of  Bureau  of  Telegraphs 
(S.  L.  G.) 

Address  and  Conference  with  joint 
session  of  two  special  Committees 
of  Fifteen  of  the  two  Peace  So- 
cieties (S.  L.  G.) 

Dinner  and  Address  and  Conference 
with  American  Peace  Society  Spe- 
cial Committee  of  Fifteen  (S.  L.  G.) 

Wed.,  Feb.  10 

Luncheon  and  Conference  with  Tokyo 
• Pastors  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Address,  Foreign  Language  School 
(S.  M.) 

Address,  Missionaries’  Japanese  Lan- 
guage School  (S.  M.) 

Banquet  by  Association  Concordia. 
Addresses  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Thurs.,  Feb.  11 

Addresses,  Women’s  University  (S. 
M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Luncheon,  Women’s  University  (S. 
M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

YOKOHAMA 

Address,  Mass  Meeting  Japanese 
Christians  (S.  M.) 

Lecture,  Yokohama  Literary  Society 
(S.  M.) 

28 

TOKYO 


Fri.,  Feb.  12 

Conference  with  Baron  Sakatani  (S. 
L.  G.) 

Lunch  with  Baron  Sakatani  (S.  M. 
& S.  L.  G.) 

Address,  First  Koto  Gakko  (Higher 
School)  (S.  M.) 

Reception,  Shunjukwai  (Tokyo  Press 
Men’s  Club). 

Addresses  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Sat.,  Feb.  13 

KYOTO 

Address,  Doshisha  (S.  M.) 

Lunch  by  President  Harada  and  Do- 
shisha  Professors  (S.  M.  & S. 
L.  G.) 

Reception  by  Kyoto  Pastors  and  Mis- 
sionaries. 

Addr^esses  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 
Address,  Kyoto  Imperial  University 
(S.  M.) 

Banquet,  Kyoto  Peace  Society. 
Addresses  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Sun.,  Feb.  14 

KOBE 

Sermon,  Japanese  Baptist  Church 
(S.  M.) 

Sermon,  English  Union  Church 
(S.  M.) 

KYOTO 

• 

Sermon,  English  Union  Church  (S. 
L.  G.) 

Conference,  Students’  Christian  Liter- 
ature Distribution  Society  (S. 
L.  G.) 

Conference  with  Prof.  Suyehiro  of 
Imperial  University  (S.  L.  G.) 

OSAKA 

Address,  City  Teachers’  Association 
(S.  M.) 

Sermon,  Baptist  Japanese  Church 
(S.  M.) 

29 

KOBE 


Mon.,  Feb.  15  Address,  Higher  Commercial  School 
(S.  M.) 

Addresses  and  Conference,  Kobe 
Branch  American  Peace  Society 
Special  Committee  (S.  L.  G.) 
American  Association  Annual  Dinner. 
Addresses  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 
Address,  Kwansei  Gaku-in  (Method- 
ist College)  (S.  M.) 

Banquet  and  Reception  by  Kobe  Pas- 
tors and  Missionaries. 

Addresses  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 
Addresses,  Mass  Meeting  of  Citizens 
(S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

FUKUOKA 

Tues.,  Feb.  16  Address,  Christian  Workers  (S.  M.) 

Lecture,  Imp?rial  University  (S.  M.) 
Dinner  to  Governor,  Lawyers  and 
Officials  by  Rev.  M.  Dozier. 
Address  (S.  M.) 

Address,  Fukuoka  Citizens’  Mass 
Meeting  (S.  M.) 

KOBE 

Address,  Kobe  College  (S.  L.  G.) 

OSAKA 

Address  and  Conference  with  Mission- 
aries (S.  L.  G.) 

KOBE 

Dinner  by  Mr.  Hahn  (S.  L.  G.) 
Address  and  Conference  with  Special 
Committee  of  American  Asiatic  As- 
sociation (S.  L.  G.) 

KUMAMOTO 

Wed.,  Feb.  17  Address,  Citizens’  Mass  Meeting 
(S.  M.)  ■ 

Dinner  by  Governor  and  Address 
(S.  M.) 

Address,  Mass  Meeting  of  Japanese 
Educators  (S.  M.) 

30 


OSAKA 


Wed.,  Feb.  17 


Thurs.,  Feb.  18 


Fri.,  Feb.  19 


Lunch,  Address  and  Conference  with 
Bankers  (S.  L.  G.) 

Address  and  Conference  with  Repre- 
sentatives of  four  Osaka  Dailies  (S. 
L.  G.) 

Address  and  Conference  with  Pro- 
prietor and  Editors  of  Osaka  Mai- 
nichi  Shimbun  (S.  L.  G.) 

Address  and  Conference  with  Pro- 
prietor and  Editors  of  Osaka  Asahi 
Shimbun  (S.  L.  G.) 

SHIMONOSEKI 

Conference  with  Christians’  Leaders 
(S.  M.) 

YAMAGUCHI 

Luncheon  by  Governor,  Address 
(S.  M.) 

Address,  Citizens’  Mass  Meeting 
(S.  M.) 

MATSUYAMA 

Address,  Citizens’  Mass  Meeting  (S. 
L.  G.) 

Address  and  Conference,  Matsuyama 
Officials  and  Citizens  (S.  L.  G.) 

Address,  Matsuyama  Girls’  School  (S. 
L.  G.) 

Interview  with  Representatives  of 
Matsuyama  .Dailies^ (S.  L.  G.) 

HIROSHIMA 

Address,  Higher  Normal  School 
(S.  M.) 

Dinner  by  Christians,  Professors  and 
Officials  (S.  M.) 

Address  (S.  M.) 

Address,  Citizens’  Mass  Meeting 
(S.  M.) 

Reception-  by  Governor,  Professors, 
Christians  and  Missionaries  (S.  M. 
& S.  L.  G.) 

Addresses  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

31 


Sat.,  Feb.  20 


Sat,,  Feb.  20 


Sun.,  Feb.  21 


Mon.,  Feb.  22 


Tues.,  Feb.  23 


Interview  with  Representatives  of 
Hiroshima  Dailies  (S.  L.  G.) 

OKAYAMA 

Reception  by  Governor,  Officials,  Citi- 
zens and  Christians. 

Addresses  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

KYOTO 

Sermon,  Doshisha  Chapel  (S.  L.  G.) 

Sermon,  English  Union  Church 
(S.  M.) 

OSAKA 

Addresses,  Mass  Meeting  of  Chris- 
tians (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Addresses,  Mass  Meeting  of  Students 
(S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Reception,  Central  Missionary  Asso- 
ciation of  Japan. 

Addresses  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Lunch,  Missionary  Association  (S.  M. 
& S.  L.  G.) 

Addresses,  Christian  Workers’  Asso- 
ciation (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Reception  and  Conference  with  Osaka 
Governor,  Officials  and  Leading 
Citizens  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Banquet,  Osaka  Branch  Japan  Peace 
Society  (S.  M.) 

Address  (S.  M.) 

NAGOYA 

Address,  Christian  Workers  (S.  M.) 

Address,  Citizens’  Mass  Meeting 
(S.  M.) 

Banquet  by  Governor  (S.  M.) 

Address  (S.  M.) 

TOKYO 

Conference,  Vice-Minister  of  Foreign 
Affairs,  Mr.  K.  Matsui  and  First 
Secretary,  Mr.  Nagai  (S.  L.  G.) 

Conference,  Baron  Megata,  Privy 
Councilor  (S.  L.  G.) 

32 


Wed.,  Feb.  24  Conference,  Proprietor  and  Editor  of 
Kokumin  Shimbun,  T.  Tokutomi 
(S.  L.  G.) 

Formal  Luncheon,  Baron  Kato,  Min- 
ister of  Foreign  Affairs  (S.  M.  & 
S.  L.  G.) 

Address,  Higher  Normal  School 
(S.  M.) 

Lecturer,  Asiatic  Society  of  Japan 
(S.  M.) 

Dinner,  Alumni  of  Chicago  University 
(S.  M.) 

Address  (S.  M.) 

Conference,  Viscount  Kaneko,  Privy 
Councilor-  (S.  L.  G.) 

Thurs.,  Feb.  25 

Conference  with  Baron  Shibusawa  (S. 
M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Formal  Japanese  Luncheon,  Baron, 
Shibusawa  (S.  ,M.  '&  S.  L.  G.) 

YOKOHAMA 

Dinner  by  Governor,  Peace  Society 
and  Bankers  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

Addresses  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

TOKYO 

Fri.,  Feb.  26  Conference  with  Labor  Delegates 
Messrs.  Suzuki  and  Yoshimatsu 
(S.  L.  G.) 

Formal  Luncheon,  Baron  Mitsui  (S. 
L.  G.) 

Conference  with  K.  Sakata,  Chief  of 
Bureau  of  Commerce  (S.  L.  G.) 

Conference  with  President  Naruse, 
Women’s  College  (S.  L.  G.) 

Farewell  Banquet,  Tokyo  Branch 
Japan  Society  of  New  York  and 
Tokyo  Business  Men  (S.  M.  & S. 
L.  G.) 

Addresses  (S.  M.  & S.  L.  G.) 

So  fully  was  the  time  occupied  by  appointments  that 
travel  from  Tokyo  to  Morioka  in  the  North,  from  Mori- 
oka  to  Kumamoto  in  the  South,  and  from  Kumamoto 
back  to  Tokyo  was  nearly  all  by  night. 

Through  the  month  of  travel,  not  an  engagement  or 
train  was  missed  nor  an  accident  or  untoward  event  of 
any  kind  incurred. 

Abundant  health  was  granted  for  all  our  needs. 

33 


SPECIAL  MENTION 


Among  the  many  receptions  and  banquets,  recorded 
above,  some  were  of  special  significance.  Among  these 
may  be  mentioned  the  private  interview  of  more  than  an 
hour  with  Count  Okuma,  and  on  a later  day  a formal 
luncheon  and  public  reception,  the  latter  occupying  an 
entire  afternoon.  The  guests  included  many  of  the  lead- 
ing officials  and  citizens  of  the  Empire. 

In  the  same  category  belong  the  luncheons  given  by 
Baron  Kato,  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs ; Baron  Shibu- 
sawa.  Banker  and  Premier  Citizen  of  Japan;  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Nitobe,  “The  bridge  across  the  Pacific” ; and  Baron 
Mitsui,  a leading  financier  of  Japan.  The  two  farewell 
dinners  given  by  the  Peace  Society  and  Bankers  of  Yoko- 
hama and  by  the  Business  men  of  Tokyo  should  not  be 
omitted  from  this  list  of  significant  attentions  and  cour- 
tesies. 

Also  demanding  special  mention  were  the  receptions 
and  attentions  given  by  the  Prefectural  Governors  of 
Sendai,  Morioka,  Kyoto,  Osaka,  Fukuoka,  Kumamoto, 
Yamaguchi,  Hiroshima,  Okayama,  Nagoya  and  Yoko- 
hama. 

In  all  these  cities  the  Mayors  and  many  other  high 
officials  also  took  important  parts. 

Baron  Sakatani,  Mayor  of  Tokyo,  in  spite  of  special 
duties  incident  to  the  circumstances  of  his  impending 
resignation,  gave  us  unstintedly  of  his  time  and  counsel. 

Peace  Societies,  the  Federated  Churches  of  Japan, 
Organizations  and  Missionaries  in  each  of  the  cities 
visited,  took  active  parts  in  promoting  the  purposes  of 
our  Embassy. 

LETTERS  AND  PAMPHLETS 

So  widespread  and  increasing  was  the  attention  given 
the  Embassy  by  the  press  and  public,  and  so  intense  was 
discovered  to  be  the  interest  of  the  entire  nation  in  the 
relation  between  Japan  and  the  United  States,  that  it 
seemed  imperative  to  deepen  and  as  far  as  possible  to 
make  permanent  the  impression  made  by  our  addresses 
and  conferences.  Especially  important  did  we  find  it  to 
disabuse  the  minds  of  the  Japanese  of  any  widespread 
hostility  on  the  part  of  the  United  States. 

For  the  furtherance  of  the  purposes  of  our  Embassy, 
we  therefore  published  several  letters  and  three  pam- 
phlets. 

Copies  of  the  Federal  Council  Message  of  Greetings 
to  the  Christians  of  Japan  were  sent  by  mail  to  each  pas- 
tor, evangelist  and  missionary  in  Japan.  This  was  accom- 
panied by  a brief  covering  letter  by  Mr.  Mathews. 

34 


A letter  by  Mr.  Gulick  was  also  sent  in  the  same  en- 
velope to  the  same  persons,  giving  a brief  statement  of 
the  way,  in  which  he  had  been  led  of  the  Lord  to  enter 
upon  this  work  and  of  the  steps  by  which  the  Federal 
Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America  had  de- 
cided to  establish  its  Commission  on  Relations  with  Japan 
and  to  send  to  Japan  a Christian  Embassy.  The  number 
of  individuals- to  whom  these  letters  went  was  neaidy 
3,500  (1,000  missionaries  and  2,500  Japanese  workers). 

The  preparation  and  publication  of  so  much  material 
required  not  only  much  time  and  attention  from  Mr. 
Culick,  but  also  much  assistance.  Mr.  Tomita,  for  many 
years  Mr.  Culick’s  personal  literary  assistant,  gave  his 
entire  time  for  the  month  of  our  stay  in  Japan.  Mr. 
Gilbert  Bowles  also  gave  himself  unstintedly  to  the  pro- 
motion of  the  success  of  our  Embassy. 

Before  leaving  the  United  States  your  Commission 
received  in  reply  to  a letter  of  inquiry  some  sixty-five  let- 
ters from  representative  Americans.  These  letters  seemed 
so  significant  of  the  real  attitude 'of  America  as  a whole 
toward  Japan  that  after  consulting  prominent  Japanese 
and  Americans  we  decided  to  m-ake  these  public.  We 
selected  twenty  for  publication  in  full ; of  the  rest  a 
summary  was  made  with  quotations  of  the  most  im- 
portant sentences.  The  whole  was  published  in  the  form 
of  a pamphlet  entitled  “The  Friendship  of  America  for 
Japan.”  It  contained  introductory  and  supplementary 
sections  and  also  the  personal  letters  of  President  Wilson 
and  Secretary  Bryan  to  Mr.  Mathews. 

Three  thousand  five  hundred  copies  of  this  pam- 
phlet were  distributed  in  Japan,  with  a covering  letter. 
Copies  were  mailed  to  three  hundred  of  the  leading 
dailies,  to  all  missionaries  and  to  nearly  all  pastors  and 
evangelists.  Five  hundred  additional  copies  were  printed 
for  use  in  America. 

Before  leaving  California,  in  response  to  a letter  of 
inquiry,  replies  were  received  from  fifteen  Japanese  resi- 
dents describing  the  improving  personal  treatment  of  Jap- 
anese in  California.  These  letters  in  Japanese  seemed  so 
pertinent  that  these  also  were  issued  in  pamphlet  form 
preceded  by  an  introductory  statement  by  Mr.  Gulick. 
Three  thousand  five  hundred  copies  of  this  pamphlet  were 
also  issued  and  distributed  to  the  same  persons  in  the 
same  envelopes  as  the  preceding  pamphlet.  Its  title  is 
“Zai-bei  Nihonjin  ni  tai  suru  Beikokujin  no  Taigu” 
(“American  Treatment  of  Japanese  in  America”). 

We  took  to  Japan  some  fifty  copies  of  the  Federal 
Council  Bulletin  No.  67,  “Two  Addresses  on  the  Ameri- 
can Japanese  Problem.”  The  supply  was  soon  exhausted. 
The  demand  for  more  was  so  urgent  that  it  seemed  wise 

35 


to  print  one  thousand  copies  of  this  pamphlet  to  be  dis- 
tributed to  American  business  men  in  Tokyo,  Yokohama 
and  Kobe,  to  American  Missionaries,  and  to  certain  se- 
lected Japanese  leaders. 

On  account  of  certain  statements  made  by  Japanese, 
criticising  articles  published  in  America  by  Missionaries 
in  Japan  calculated,  it  was  said,  to  promote  among  Ameri- 
cans anti- Japanese  feeling,  Mr.  Gulick  prepared  in  con- 
sultation with  Mr.  Mathews  a personal  letter  which  was 
sent  to  some  eight  hundred  American  missionaries. 


THE  GENERAL  MESSAGE  OF  THE 
EMBASSY 

There  were  three  classes  of  audiences  to  whom  your 
representatives  spoke,  Japanese  Christians  and  Mission- 
aries, Students  of  higher  schools  and  universities,  and 
Representative  Citizens. 

(1)  Opportunities  to  address  the  Christians  of 
Japan  were  numerous.  Wherever  we  went  we  were  most 
cordially  welcomed  by  the  Christian  workers,  both  native 
and  missionary,  and,  whenever  possible,  we  preached  to 
Christian  assemblies.  Exclusive  of  all  others  who  made 
up  the  various  audiences,  we  met  several  hundred  Chris- 
tian workers  and  thousands  of  Christian  men  and  women. 
To  all  of  these  we  gave  the  “Message”  of  the  Federal 
Council.  We  also,  as  already  stated,  mailed  a copy  of 
the  same  with  accompanying  personal  letters  to  every 
Christian  worker,  Japanese  or  missionary,  As  far  as 
possible  we  joined  in  evangelistic  services  and  frequently 
were  rewarded  by  a large  number  of  enquirer^. 

The  heartiness  of  the  reception  accorded  us  and  the 
appreciation  of  the  action  of  the  Federal  Council  in  send- 
ing the  Embassy  appear  in  the  resolutions  in  Part  First 
of  this  Report. 

(2)  At  least  15,000  students  of  the  grade  of  Higher 
Schools  and  Universities  were  reached  by  our  various  ad- 
dresses. The  subjects  with  which  these  young  men  were 
approached  depended  generally  upon  the  choice  of  the 
Director  of  the  Institution  or  on  other  circumstances,  but 
as  we  were  always  received  as  the  representatives  of  the 
Federal  Council,  each  address  was  intended  to  set  forth 
the  need  of  moral  and  religious  elements  in  the  life  of 
educated  men  and  in  the  treatment  of  international  re- 
lations. There  was  constant  opportunity  to  present 
American  foreign  policies  and  to  emphasize  the  oppor- 
tunity for  educated  men  to  share  in  developing  better  un- 
derstanding between  Japan  and  the  United  States,  a bet- 
ter epoch  in  world  politics. 


36 


(3)  The  governors  and  Siayors  organized  public 
welcome  mass  and  other  meetings  generally  accompanied 
by  luncheons  and  banquets,  in  Tokyo,  Sendai,  Morioka, 
Kyoto,  Kobe,  Osaka,  Fukuoka,  Kumamoto,  Okayama, 
Yamaguchi,  Matsuyama,  Hiroshima,  Nagoya,  and  Yoko- 
hama. In  this  way  we  met  many  thousands  of  repre- 
sentative citizens  including  hundreds  of  Bankers,  Edu- 
cators, Officials,  and  Merchants.  At  such  gatherings  we 
spoke  always  by  request  directly  upon  the  American-Jap- 
anese  problem.  We  always  spoke  frankly  concerning  the 
difficulties  involved  both  for  the  United  States  and  for 
Japan,  and  Mr.  Gulick  described  with  some  detail  his 
general  immigration  policy.  He  explained  carefully  the 
distinction  between  alien  laborers  and  bona  fide  immi- 
grants ; he  also  spoke  frankly  of  the  difficulties  experi- 
enced by  Californians  with  tens  of  thousands  of  Japanese 
peasants,  ignorant  of  the  English  Language  as  well  as 
of  American  customs  and  morals.  The  reception  given 
us  was  always  cordial  and  the  applause  during  and  in- 
variably at  the  close  of  the  addresses  was  hearty.  We 
were  always  introduced  as  representatives  of  the  Chris- 
tian Churches  of  America,  a fact  which  was  everywhere 
spoken  of  as  highly  significant,  and  as  ground  for  special 
welcome.  The  influence  of  such  official  recognition  was 
said  by  many  Christian  workers  to  be  of  great  value  to 
the  Christian  community.  These  meetings  received  very 
considerable  attention  from  the  press. 

The  Christian  Embassy  was  thus  brought  to  the  at- 
tention of  the  entire  Empire.  We  could  have  prolonged 
our  tour  for  several  weeks,  speaking  in  other  cities.  Many 
persons  in  a position  to  know  said  that  no  representatives 
of  religion  had  ever  been  accorded  such  a hearing  in 
Japan. 


FINDINGS 

(1)  We  found  the  churches  of  Japan  well  organ- 
ized for  the  three-year,  nation-wide,  union,  Evangelistic 
campaign  on  which  they  are  well  started.  Contrary  to 
many  misgivings  that  arose  when  “the  great  war”  broke 
outThe  aggressive  work  of  the  churches  has  in  no  wise 
diminished.  The  campaign  is  being  pushed  by  the  leaders 
with  high  hopes  of  large  results. 

(2)  Japan  as  a whole  is  increasingly  conscious  of 
the  need  of  moral  power  and  spiritual  regeneration. 
Many  leaders  are  looking  with  no  little  earnestness  to 
Christianity  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  higher  needs  of 
the  nation.  It  is  evident  that  the  Christian  Gospel  has 
had  a far  wider  effect  than  would  appear  from  the  statis- 
tical record  of  church  membership. 


37 


(3)  We  found  a large  degree  of  unity  and  a spirit 
of  co-operation  between  the  various  churches  and  also 
among  the  various  missions.  With  one  or  two  exceptions, 
the  principal  Protestant  churches  of  Japan  have  recently 
effected  a federation  and  are  learning  how  to  act  co- 
operatively. The  thirty  Protestant  missions  in  Japan  have, 
with  but  few  exceptions,  been  federated  for  some  fifteen 
years.  The  rivalry  and  antipathy  of  the  denominations 
so  often  asserted  by  those  who  have  little  acquaintance 
with  actual  mission  fields  do  not  exist  to  any  considerable 
extent  in  Japan. 

(4)  The  Christian  community  iir  Japan  is  relatively 
small  (about  90,000  Protestants,  60,000  Roman  Catholics 
and  30,000  Greek  Catholics),  and  is  correspondingly  sen- 
sitive to  the  objections  frequently  raised  that  Christianity 
is  opposed  to  Japanese  loyalty.  For  this  reason  it  has 
not  been  active  in  attempting  to  influence  international 
politics.  At  the  same  time  we  found  a general  determina- 
tion on  the  part  of  Christian  leaders  to  make  the  Churches 
of  Japan  centers  of  international  good-understanding. 
We  also  found  an  equally  general  feeling  expressed  by 
Japanese  officials  of  high  standing  that  the  difficulties  be- 
tween the  two  nations  would  be  adjusted  now  that  the 
Christians  of  America  had  taken  up  the  matter.  The 
constant  reference  to  this  latter  feeling  was  one  of  the 
marked  characteristics  of  addresses  of  welcome  through- 
out the  country. 

(5)  The  attitude  of  Japan  to  the  United  States  is 
primarily  that  of  friendship.  Repeated  reference  has 
been  made  in  our  hearing  by  officials  and  others  to  the 
help  rendered  by  the  United  States  to  Japan  from  the 
days  of  Commodore  Perry  onward.  The  results  of 
American  policies  prior  to  the  Russo-Japanese  War  were 
such  as  to  make  Japan  a friend  of  America. 

(6)  Yet  anti-American  feeling  is  developing  in 
Japan.  This  feeling  varies  in  the  different  classes  and 
sections  of  the  Empire,  in  some  being  hardly  observable, 
and  in  others  outspoken.  To  some  extent  it  may  be  due 
to  an  apprehension  as  to  the  policy  of  the  United  States 
relative  to  China,  and  to  a sense  of  rivalry  in  Asiatic 
commerce.  But  generally  speaking,  it  is  not  indigenous 
in  Japan  but  rises  and  falls  with  the  anti-Japanese  senti- 
ment, utterances  and  legislation  in  the  United  States. 
(3n  this  latter  point,  leading  Japanese  are  unanimous. 

Further,  its  intensity  depends  upon  the  character  of 
the  neAvspaper  treatment  of  such  news — too  often  col- 
ored by  the  desire  of  interested  parties  to  involve  Japan 
in  trouble  with  the  United  States — as  concerns  directly 
or  indirectly  the  relations  of  the  two  countries.  The  Jap- 
anese newspapers  are  widely  read  and  exercise  very  con- 

38 


siclerable  influence  upon  their  constituencies.  As  they 
are  in  close  touch  through  their  correspondents  with 
America,  any  anti- Japanese  sentiment  there  expressed  in 
public  or  in  the  press  tends  to  be  immediately  transformed 
into  anti-American  sentiment  in  Japan. 

The  policy  of  the  government  to  develop  an  intense 
national  loyalty  by  specific  instruction  through  its  schools 
and  in  the  army  and  navy  makes  the  thousands  of  stu- 
dents and  all  military  men  particularly  sensitive  of  any 
word  or  act  that  seems  to  injure  Japan’s  national  dignity 
or  honor. 

. (7)  Although  among  the  higher  official  and  really 

representative  classes  there  is  no  hostility  to  the  United 
States,  there  is  a keen  sense  of  injured  honor,  because  of 
discrimination  showri  in  America  against  the  Japanese  as 
Japanese.  These  intelligent  men  recognize  to  a notice- 
able degree  the  difficulties  America  faces  in  immigration 
and  they  disavow  any  desire  for  the  removal  of  the  ex- 
isting limitations  set  by  the  Japanese  government  upon 
immigration  to  the  United  States.  This  should  be  clearly 
understood.  Japan  does  not  ask  for  free  immigration 
to  America.  The  Japanese  government  fully  recognizes 
the  right  of  the  United  States  to  control  immigration  and 
naturalization  and  has  honorably  and  strictly  maintained 
the  “gentlemen’s  agreement”  to  prevent  the  emigration 
of  Japanese  laborers  to  the  United  States.  Strictly  speak- 
ing there  is  no  longer  any  Japanese  immigration  question, 
for  by  the  action  of  the  Japanese  government  there  is 
no  new  emigration  of  Japanese  zvorkmen  to  the  United 
States. 

(8)  We  were  impressed  with  the  simplicity,  una- 
nimity and  reasonableness  of  the  view  taken  by  repre- 
sentative Japanese  Statesmen,  Educators,  Business  men, 
and  Editors,  viz. : 

The  Japanese  government  has  stopped  the  emigration 
of  Japanese  workmen  to  the  United  States,  Canada  and 
Mexico,  out  of  consideration  for  American  friendship, 
and  wishes  only  the  same  sort  of  treatment  for  its  sub- 
jects lawfully  in  America  as  is  accorded  those  of  other 
friendly  nations.  There  is  no  question  of  immigration ; 
% there  is  only  the  desire  for  treatment  free  from  invidious 

discrimination. 

The  issue  thus  raised  is  solely  one  of  the  humiliating 
treatment  of  Japanese  already  in  the  United  States  by 
zehich  the  honor  and  dignity  of  Japan  are  felt  to  be  in- 
z'olz’ed.  Such  differential  treatment  as  that  given  the 
Japanese  in  California  and  other  Pacific  Coast  States  can- 
not fail  to  weaken  the  traditional  friendship  of  Japan  for 
the  United  States.  It  is  certainly  shortsighted  to  alienate 
a nation  whose  friendship  will  be  of  determining  signifi- 
cance during  the  period  of  reconstruction  of  the  com- 


39 


merce  and  the  politics  of  Asia,  particularly  of  China.  And 
what  is  vastly  more  serious,  such  treatment  is  contrary 
to  the  fundamental  prinfiples  of  democracy  and  of  Chris- 
tianity. 

(9)  So  concerned  have  Japanese  leaders  become 
over  the  continued  development  in  America  of  anti- Jap- 
anese agitation  and  legislation,  actual  and  proposed,  to 
the  detriment  of  the  historic  international  friendship,  that 
Count  Okuma,  as  President  of  the  Japan  Peace  Society, 
has  appointed  to  study  the  American- Japanese  relations 
a Committee  of  Fifteen  of  the  strongest  leaders  of  the 
Empire.  The  American  Peace  Society  of  Japan  has  ap- 
pointed a corresponding  Committee  of  Fifteen.  These 
two  committees  are  to  work  conjointly  and  also  sep- 
arately. 

(10)  There  is  also  a belief  in  Japan,  especially 
among  military  and  naval  circles,  that  the  United  States 
has  imperialistic  ambitions  in  the  East  which  are  hos- 
tile to  the  development  of  Japan’s  interests.  Strange  as 
it  may  seem  to  Americans,  there  is  a suspicion  in  Japan 
of  America’s  aggressive  ambitions  in  the  Orient,  akin  to 
the  suspicion  of  Japan  felt  in  certain  circles  in  America. 
These  two  feelings  doubtless  react  upon  and  evoke  each 
other,  and  neither  will  be  allayed  until  each  nation  under- 
stands better  each  the  other’s  fundamental  problems  and 
motives.  As  long  as  an  “inevitable”  war  between  the 
two  countries  is  preached  by  the  military  and  naval  cliques 
on  each  side  of  the  Pacific,  and  is  urged  as  adequate 
ground  for  increased  naval  and  military  preparation,  on 
the  part  of  the  United  States,  so  long  will  misunderstand- 
ings and  suspicions  be  magnified. 

(11)  While  the  leaders  of  Japan  recognize  that  the 
situation  in  California  may  be  traced  to  economic  condi- 
tions, many  of  them  assert  that  racial  rather  than  econ- 
omic motives  are  becoming  paramount.  This  gives  them 
serious  anxiety  because  they  are  well  informed  as  to  race 
questions  within  the  United  States.  This  view  is  given 
further  weight  by  Governor  Johnson’s  unanswerable  argu- 
ment that  racial  distinctions  were  not  first  made  by  the 
California  alien  land-law,  but  by  the  federal  law  specify- 
ing those  races  that  alone  are  eligible  for  citizenship  by 
naturalization. 

(12)  In  conclusion  we  return  from  Japan  with  a 
deepened  sense  of  Christian  opportunity  and  responsibil- 
ity at  this  time  of  world-crisis.  The  Gospel  must  be  ap- 
plied to  internationalism  if  the  world  is  to  be  at  peace. 
By  giving  justice  rather  than  by  demanding  rights  can 
nations  remain  friends.  Churches  must  be  more  than 
local  institutions  interested  in  local  souls ; they  must  also 
be  forces  through  which  the  Spirit  of  God  shall  enable 


40 


nations  to  follow  the  sacrificial  calls  of  Jesus  Christ.  Not 
by  diplomacy  nor  by  militarism  but  only  by  genuine 
fraternity  can  the  world  secure  that  spiritual  international- 
ism by  which  it  can  rise  above  the  limits  of  nations  and 
the  bondage  of  traditions  and  of  history.  The  jdeals  of 
foreign  missions  must  be  extended  to  this  new  oppor- 
tunity. We  must  not  only  evangelize  foreigners  ; we  must 
evangelize  our  foreign  policies. 


DIFFICULTIES  IN  THE  WAY  OF 
ADJUSTMENT 

I.  ON  THE  PART  OF  AMERICA: 

a.  General  indifference  of  the  citizens  of  the  United 
States  to  international  questions  and  in  particular  insuffi- 
cient acquaintance  with  the  recent  development  of  Japan 
and  the  problems  arising  from  European  policies  in  the 
Far  East. 

b.  Failure  to  see  that  Japan  does  not  ask  for  free 
opportunity  to  send  emigrants  to  the  United  States,  but 
that  Japanese  already  resident  in  the  United  States  shall 
be  treated  without  discrimination. 

c.  The  constitutional  difficulty  which,  under  pres- 
ent laws,  prevents  the  Federal  Government  from  enforc- 
ing in  the  various  States  the  general  purposes  as  well 
as  the  letter  of  treaties. 

d.  The  confusion  of  the  Japanese  question  with 
various  other  issues  now  in  the  public  mind. 

e.  The  antiquated  legislation  regarding  naturaliza- 
tion. 

f.  The  tendency  of  individual  politicians  and  of 
political  parties  to  make  political  capital  of  economic 
struggles  and  race  prejudice. 

g.  The  persistent  misconception  on  the  part  of  many 
Americans  that  Japan  is  insincere  in  its  professions  of 
friendship  and  is  really  planning  war. 

h.  Lack  of  trustworthy  information  concerning  and 
distrust  of  Japanese  policies  regarding  China. 

II.  ON  THE  PART  OF  JAPAN:  ' 

a.  Failure  to  appreciate  the  real  situation  in 
America  and  a tendency  to  exaggerate  the  practical  dif- 
ficulties experienced  by  Japanese  in  sections  of  the  United 
States. 

b.  Misunderstanding  of  various  constitutional  and 
diplomatic  aspects  of  the  situation ; e.  g.,  the  actual  re- 


41 


lation  of  the  California  Alien  Land  Law  to  the  Japanese 
treaty ; the  constitutional  limitations  set  "upon  the  relation 
of  the  federal  government  with  various  state  govern- 
ments ; the  naturalization  laws  of  the  t\Vo  countries. 

c.  Tendency  to  regard  unfriendly  actions  in  a few 
of  the  Pacific  Coast  States  as  the  action  of  the  U.  S.  as 
a whole. 

d.  Failure  of  Japanese  generally  to  recognize  the 
important  respects  in  which  Japanese  emigrants  to 
America  really  differ  from  emigrants  from  Europe. 

It  is,  however,  to  be  noted  that  a change  is  taking 
place  among  Japanese  in  regard  to  these  matters.  Individ- 
uals who  have  -resided  for  many  years  in  California,  or 
Hawaii,  have  become  remarkably  Americanized  in  thought 
and  feelings,  no  less  than  in  appearance  and  conduct.  They' 
feel  strange  on  returning  to  Jap'an  and  critical  of  their 
own  land,  preferring  America.  This  is  especially  true  of 
American  born  and  American  educated  children.  Many 
Japanese  now  desire  to  become  American  citizens  with 
all  that  that  means.  Moreover,  Japanese  in  Japan  are 
beginning  to  see  that  Japanese  in  America  must  give  up 
the  idea  of  being  colonists,  if  they  are  to  be  treated 
on  a basis  of  equality  with  immigrants  from  other  lands. 

AN  IMPORTANT  SUGGESTION 

Before  we  left  California,  Mr.  Paul  Scharrenburg, 
Secretary  of  the  California  State  Federation  of  Labor, 
made  the  suggestion  that  one  important  method  for  pro- 
moting mutual  understanding  and  friendship  between 
Japan  and  America  was  to  arrange  for  the  exchange  of 
Fraternal  Delegates  by  the  respective  working  classes  of 
the  two  countries.  He  assured  us  that  a “suitable”  rep- 
resentative from  Japan  would  be  received  by  the  labor 
unions  of  California  and  America.  It  was  understood 
that  effort  should  be  made  to  see  if  any  such  delegate 
could  be  found. 

Immediately  upon  arrival  in  Japan  conference  upon 
this  matter  was  held  with  representatives  of  the  Foreign 
Office,  with  a few  leading  citizens  of  Tokyo,  and  with 
men  especially  interested  in  the  industrial  and  labor  prob- 
lems of  Japan.  While  unexpectedly  favorable  hearing 
was  given  to  Mr.  Scharrenberg’s  suggestion,  inasmuch  as 
final  decision  has  not  yet  been  reached,  it  seems  wiser  to 
defer  for  the  present  complete  report  upon  this  matter. 


42 


RECOMMENDATIONS 

(1)  That  the  Federal  Council,  without  taking  sides 
in  any  international  dispute,  urge  the  Christian  bodies 
which  it  represents  to  emphasize  the  need  of  applying  the 
principles  of  the  Gospel  to  our  international  relations  with 
all  nations  and  peoples.  While  churches  are  to  be  inde- 
pendent of  the  state  the  ideals  of  Jesus  should  control 
our  international  policies.-  States  as  zvell  as  individuals 
must  be  inspired  to  give  justice  rather  than  seek  only  to 
get  their  rights. 

(2)  That  to  this  end  the  Federal  Council  press  a 
campaign  of  education  in  America  emphasizing; 

(a)  The  need  of  adjusting  the  relations  of  the  Fed- 
eral and  State  governments  relative  to  the  care  and  pro- 
tection of  aliens. 

(b)  That  the  Japanese  question  is  a phase  of  the 
immigration  and  other  related  questions. 

(c)  That  one  chief  question  at  issue  concerns  the 
treatment  of  Asiatics  already  in  America. 

(3)  That  clergymen  be  urged  to  study  the  question 
of  the  relation  of  the  United  States  to  Asia  and  thus  be 
able  to  give  their  congregations  a deeper  appreciation  of 
foreign  missions,  and  to  guide  them  into  an  intelligent 
and  righteous  attitude  towards  international  policies  as  a 
means  of  furthering  the  world-wide  establishment  of  the 
Kingdom  of  God. 

(4)  That  the  Commission  on  Relations  with  Japan 
prepare  for  the  use  of  pastors  a list  of  suitable  books  and 
articles  dealing  with  the  Oriental  Problem  and  also  a sug- 
gestive summary  leaflet  of  the  most  important  informa- 
tion and  topics  suitable  for  sermons  and  prayer  meeting 
addresses. 

(5)  That  American  Educators  be  urged  to  present 
such  information  to  the  public  under  their  influence  as 
will  promote  an  intelligent  and  just  appreciation  of 
Asiatic  nations,  their  histories  and  their  special  problems, 
and  lead  the  rising  generation  to  an  attitude  of  friendly 
esteem. 

(6)  That  peace  workers,  and  members  of  peace  so- 
cieties be  urged  to  regard  the  establishment  in  America 
of  the  right  treatment  of  Asiatics  and  right  legislation 
dealing  with  them  as  an  immediately  practical  question 
before  us  for  the  establishment  of  permanent  world  peace. 

(7)  That  Chambers  of  Commerce,  Labor  Councils, 
Men’s  Clubs,  the  Federated  Women’s  Clubs,  Reading 
Circles,  and  all  kinds  of  organized  groups  of  men  and 
women  be  urged  to  turn  their  attention  to  the  gravity  of 
America’s  Oriental  problem  arising  from  widespread 
ignorance  and  misunderstanding  with  regard  to  Japan  and 

43 


consequent  unjustified  suspicions.  Not  a few  of  the 
articles  in  our  current  magazines  and  daily  papers  are 
poisoned  by  this  ignorance  and  suspicion. 

(8)  That  the  Federal  Council  while  appreciating 
efforts  now  being  made  to  Evangelize  Asiatics  in  America 
take  steps  to  emphasize  the  need  of  additional  facilities 
for  Asiatics  already  in  the  United  States,  to  acquire  Eng- 
lish as  rapidly  as  possible  and  such  other  knowledge  and 
customs  as  will  enable  them  to  adapt  themselves  com- 
pletely to  their  new  social  surroundings. 

(9)  That  wherever  Asiatics  are  habitually  sub- 
jected to  invidious  treatment  and  humiliation,  patriotic 
citizens  are  recommended  to  take  concerted  action  to  de- 
velop right  popular  sentiment  that  will  frown  upon  such 
discrimination  and  internationally  unfriendly  conduct. 

(10)  That  the  Federal  Council  be  asked  to  author- 
ize measures  for  the  carrying  out  of  the  following  resolu- 
tion of  the  Commission  on  Relations  with  Japan,  calling 
upon  Congress  and  the  people  of  the  United  States  to 
adopt  an  adequate  Oriental  Policy,  and  dealing  with  the 
entire  question  of  immigration  and  treatment  of  aliens  in 
America. 

The  awakening  of  Asia  and  her  rapid  acquisition  of 
important  elements  of  Occidental  civilization  inaugurates 
a new  era  in  world  history  in  which  Asia  is  to  play  a 
new  and  increasingly  important  role.  Whether  that  role 
shall  be  one  of  peace,  good  will  and  mutual  co-operation, 
or  one  controlled  by  increasing  suspicion  and  fear  be- 
tween the  East  and  the  West  will  depend  largely  upon 
the  attitude  of  the  western  nations  themselves. 

It  has  seemed  to  many  of  our  citizens  who  have  be- 
come familiar  with  the  questions  raised  by  this  more  in- 
timate and  ever-increasing  contact  with  the  Orient  that 
the  United  States  might  well  adopt  a more  adequate 
(Oriental  Policy.  Therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  Commission  on  Relations  with 
Japan,  appointed  by  the  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches 
of  Christ  in  America,  urge  upon  Congress  and  upon  the 
people  of  the  United  States  the  importance  of  adopting 
an  Oriental  Policy  the  fundamental  principle  of  which 
shall  be  the  just  and  equitable  treatment  of  all  races,  and 
to  this  end  suggests  that  the  entire  immigration  problem 
be  taken  up  at  an  early  date,  providing  for  comprehensive 
legislation  covering  all  phases  of  the  question  (such  as 
the  limitation  of  immigration  and  the  registration,  distri- 
bution, employment,  education,  and  naturalizations  ■ of 
immigrants),  in  such  a way  as  to  conserve  American  in- 
stitutions, to  protect  American  labor  from  dangerous  eco- 
nomic competition  and  to  promote  an  intelligent  and  en- 
during friendliness  among  the  peoples  of  all  nations. 

44 


(11)  That  Chambers  of  Commerce,  Labor  Coun- 
cils, Merchants’  Associations,  Educational  Bodies,  Min- 
isters’ Associations,  and  all  representative  groups  of  re- 
sponsible citizens  be  urged  to  consider  at  an  early  date 
the  foregoing  appeal  and  if  found  satisfactory  to  endorse 
the  same,  sending  report  of  such  endorsement  to  their  re- 
spective representatives  in  Congress,  to  President  Wilson, 
and  also  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Federal  Council  of  the 
Churches  of  Christ  in  America. 

We  further  suggest  that  all  bodies  endorsing  the 
above  resolution  be  also  urged  to  ask  that  legislation  deal- 
ing with  the  same  shall  be  framed  and  acted  upon  as  a 
national  non-partisan  program. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Shailer  Mathews, 
Sidney  L.  Gulick. 


45 


PART  THIRD 


ACTION  OF  THE  COMMISSION  ON  RELA- 
TIONS WITH  JAPAN 

This  report,  with  the  findings  and  recommendations, 
was  adopted  by  the  Commission  on  Relations  with  Japan 
of  the  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in 
America  at  a meeting  held  April  17th,  1915. 

Charles  S.  Macfarland, 

Secretary. 


V 


N 


> 


